The feminist, progressive group blog Shakesville is rolling out a growing series called “Sarah Palin Sexism Watch.” Each Palin/sexism post comes with the caveat that “we defend Sarah Palin against misogynist smears not because we endorse her or her politics, but because that’s how feminism works.” In other words: Shakesville’s contributors are not Palin fans. This is what makes it interesting to watch them stick up for her.

Melissa McEwan, who founded Shakesville and lives near Chicago, is pissed off to be defending Palin but even angrier that women can’t run for public office without sexist attacks:

[T]he people engaging in this horseshit don’t reserve misogyny for women who engage in it themselves. If this election, and the spectrum of political womanhood bookended by feminist Hillary Clinton and “feminist for life” Sarah Palin, hasn’t established beyond all reasonable doubt that no women who dares to have a public life is safe from misogyny, I don’t know what will.

Enter the Sarah Palin Action Figure, which is being sold in a variety of outfits, including Naughty Schoolgirl and—I dunno—Killer Stripper-Spy, or something

One Response to “Feminist Progressives Defend Palin Against Sexism”

What a relief Shakesville is. The devastating brilliance of Rove strategy leaves us bound with our own rope. I think defending SP’s right to run, in earnest, may be the best way to insure that she will lose, in earnest.